Nic Brown
Acronym isn't just one of the most prolific techno producers currently operating but also one of the finest. His "June" album from last year and the "Ashes" EP which followed at the beginning of 2016 were works of supreme quality and rightly had superlatives lavished upon them by critics the world over. His recent "Guadalquivir" EP wasn't exactly a misfire but its somewhat subdued quality was a touch puzzling, however, if you think this modular master might be losing his touch, one listen to his new full-length "Entangled In Vines" will allay your fears. Released on Madrid's Semantica imprint rather than Stockholm stronghold Northern Electronics which normally handles his output, it's a storming return to form and judging by the humid atmosphere which seems to pervade much of the album, Acronym's relocation from the land of the tundra to warmer climes may have done more than just revitalise his production skills. If you've heard Acronym's music before you'll know roughly what "Entangled In Vines" will deliver: richly detailed, fluid techno that relies less on the thud of a kick drum than it does the manipulation of sound so you're never quite sure what twist or turn a particular track will take next. On certain cuts - the particularly hard-hitting "Wrapped" for example - that sensation of humidity I mentioned earlier seems to intensify to sweltering levels so maybe "Entangled In Vines" will, in time, be come to be referred to as Acronym's tropical album. Not his jungle album though. The thought of the semantics police getting involved is a prospect I'd rather not consider. If you're a fan of techno produced by a bona fide master, add this to your collection immediately. Brilliant.
Favorite track: Wrapped.